Florida / Seminole County

Roof Replacement Permit in Seminole County, Florida

Permit required

Yes, a permit is required

Before replacing a roof in unincorporated Seminole County (minor roof repairs of 100 square feet or less are exempt)

Confirmed on official page Verified Building Division

By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources

Quick answer

Seminole County's Storm Damage Repair guidance lists roof repairs exceeding 100 square feet among the work that requires a building permit, while roof repairs not exceeding 100 square feet are listed as not requiring one; a full roof replacement, which virtually always exceeds that area, is billed under the county's Re-roof fee-schedule category. This applies to unincorporated Seminole County; the cities of Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, and Winter Springs operate their own building departments. Starting July 1, 2026, a new state law (ch. 2026-63, F.S. 553.79) lets an owner request a written, documented exemption for qualifying single-family home work valued under $7,500, but the county's own new-state-legislation page does not name roofing among the work categories eligible for that request.

Typical threshold: Roof repairs not exceeding 100 square feet do not require a permit; roof repairs exceeding 100 square feet do require one.

Who is pulling this permit?

Apply yourself

Apply on the Seminole County permit portal

Hire it out

Before you sign, ask the contractor:

  • Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
  • Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
  • Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?

When a permit is usually needed

Before replacing a roof in unincorporated Seminole County (minor roof repairs of 100 square feet or less are exempt)

What a roof replacement permit costs in Seminole County

Line item
roof replacement permitBy formulaRe-roof: $30.00 base permit fee plus $6.00 per $1,000 value of construction; an additional $60.00 roof permit fee applies when a roof permit is issued together with a building permit by a roofing contractor. Per the Section 20.10 fee schedule (Resolution 2024-R-139, adopted Dec. 12, 2023).
Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead . Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.

How Seminole County compares in Florida

JurisdictionPermit needed?Threshold
Alachua CountyIt dependsarea of roof repair or replacement
Brevard CountyPermit requiredNot specified
Broward CountyIt dependsunder F.S. 553.79(1)(g) (HB 803, ch. 2026-63, effective 2026-07-01), work valued at less than $7,500 on a single-family dwelling qualifies for exemption upon a written exemption request with documentation of the nature and value of the work; the exemption excludes electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, and gas work and any property in a flood hazard area; the statute does not name roofing, so a non-structural reroof under that value can qualify; confirm with Broward County Building Code Division.
Charlotte CountyPermit requiredRoof repairs less than 100 square feet (one square) where the work does not include repairs to trusses or rafters do not require a permit.
Hernando CountyPermit requiredRoof repairs covering less than 100 square feet of existing roof are exempt from a building permit; this exemption does not extend to a full roof replacement
Marion CountyPermit requiredRoofing repair of 100 square feet or less does not require a permit
Seminole Countythis pagePermit requiredRoof repairs not exceeding 100 square feet do not require a permit; roof repairs exceeding 100 square feet do require one

Closest roof replacement permit thresholds outside Florida

Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Seminole County's 100 sq ft.

  • Corpus Christi, Texas, The 100 square feet measures the area of shingles replaced. A re-roof permit is triggered by replacing shingles in excess of 100 square feet, by changing the slope of the roof, by removing and replacing roof decking, or by changing the roof material; any one trigger alone requires the permit.
  • Howard County, Maryland, roof covering replacement with no other structural repairs is exempt, including up to 64 sq ft of roof sheathing; replacing more sheathing or any other structural repair requires a building permit
  • Alameda County, California, Aggregate roof area repaired on a previously permitted roof, at which the building permit exemption stops
  • Arlington County, Virginia, Replacing roof covering alone or with less than 256 square feet of roof decking replaced needs no permit; replacing more than 256 square feet of decking requires a building permit, and decking originally required to be fire retardant treated always requires a permit.

How to apply in Seminole County

A residential reroof permit application is lighter than for structural work: you state whether the scope is a full tear-off (roof replacement) or an overlay (roof recover), describe the covering material and its manufacturer instructions, and note the condition of the existing deck, since those facts determine which code path applies.

What most roof replacement permit applications include:

  • State on the application whether the job is a roof replacement, which strips all existing layers down to the bare deck, or a roof recover, which leaves the old covering in place under specific conditions, since the two scopes are governed differently (IRC R908.3).
  • A recover is only an option where the new covering follows the roof covering manufacturer's approved instructions or is a self-supporting system, such as standing-seam metal, that does not rely on the existing roof for support (IRC R908.3.1).
  • Full tear-off must be scoped on the application instead of a recover when the existing roof is water soaked or deteriorated, is slate, clay, cement, or asbestos-cement tile, or already carries two or more layers of roof covering (IRC R908.3.1.1).
  • The materials and installation methods described on the application must comply with the reroofing requirements of the roof-assemblies chapter (IRC R908.1).
  • If the scope reuses existing slate, clay, or cement tile, damaged or broken pieces cannot be listed for reinstallation, and any rusted or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents uncovered during tear-off must be scoped for replacement (IRC R908.5).

General submittal guidance from IRC Section R908 Reroofing (text as adopted in the 2020 Residential Code of New York State, based on the 2018 IRC). Source. Building Division sets the exact checklist for Seminole County.

Where to apply in Seminole County:

Building Division

Inspections and closing out your permit

Most residential reroofs get two to three field inspections keyed to the scope of work: a deck or nailing check when sheathing is exposed or replaced, a final on the completed covering and flashings, and in some high-wind regions a dedicated check of mitigation measures added during tear-off.

  1. Where the covering is fully removed and the sheathing is exposed, replaced, or added, inspectors check the deck and its nailing before any new roofing goes down, since the structural framework must be able to carry the new covering's loads (IRC R908.2).
  2. An overlay is only approved where it meets one of the code's listed recover conditions, such as installation in accordance with the covering manufacturer's approved instructions (IRC R908.3.1).
  3. Flashings disturbed or replaced during the job are checked against the approved manufacturer's installation instructions, and metal flashing that will receive bituminous material must be primed before installation (IRC R908.6).
  4. A final inspection confirms the completed roof covering and its fasteners were installed as required for that material and per manufacturer instructions before the permit is closed (IRC R905).
  5. In some regions with strengthened wind provisions, reroofing an older single-family home also triggers inspection of supplemental deck-nailing and a secondary water barrier added during tear-off, on top of the base reroofing requirements (Florida Building Code, Residential R908.7 Mitigation).
  6. Reinstalled existing slate, clay, or cement tile is checked against reuse limits at inspection, and any rusted, damaged, or deteriorated flashings, edgings, outlets, or vents found during tear-off must be replaced rather than reinstalled (IRC R908.5).

Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Seminole County permit portal or by phone at 407-665-7050.

Inspection sequence from IRC Section R908 Reroofing and Section R905 Roof Coverings (2021 International Residential Code). Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a roof replacement permit in Seminole County?
Seminole County's Storm Damage Repair guidance lists roof repairs exceeding 100 square feet among the work that requires a building permit, while roof repairs not exceeding 100 square feet are listed as not requiring one; a full roof replacement, which virtually always exceeds that area, is billed under the county's Re-roof fee-schedule category. This applies to unincorporated Seminole County; the cities of Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, and Winter Springs operate their own building departments. Starting July 1, 2026, a new state law (ch. 2026-63, F.S. 553.79) lets an owner request a written, documented exemption for qualifying single-family home work valued under $7,500, but the county's own new-state-legislation page does not name roofing among the work categories eligible for that request. Always confirm with the Building Division before starting.
How much does a roof replacement permit cost in Seminole County?
Re-roof: $30.00 base permit fee plus $6.00 per $1,000 value of construction; an additional $60.00 roof permit fee applies when a roof permit is issued together with a building permit by a roofing contractor. Per the Section 20.10 fee schedule (Resolution 2024-R-139, adopted Dec. 12, 2023). See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
Where do you apply for a roof replacement permit in Seminole County?
You can apply through the Seminole County permit portal or contact the Building Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
Can a homeowner pull a roof replacement permit themselves in Seminole County?
Under Florida law (F.S. 489.103(7)(a)-(c)): Florida lets you pull your own permit as an owner-builder under section 489.103(7), Florida Statutes, which exempts property owners from the contractor licensing law when they act as their own contractor and provide direct, onsite supervision of all work not performed by licensed contractors. The exemption covers building or improving a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding for your own occupancy or use, and commercial buildings only up to a $75,000 cost, and the property may not be built or improved for sale or lease. If you sell or lease the property within 1 year after completing the work, the law presumes it was built for sale or lease, which violates the exemption. To qualify, you must personally appear and sign the building permit application and sign a state-prescribed disclosure statement acknowledging that you are the party legally and financially responsible for the construction, that you must provide direct, onsite supervision, and that unlicensed people you use must be your own employees, bringing federal tax withholding and workers' compensation obligations. You may not hire an unlicensed person to act as your contractor and may not delegate supervision to anyone who is not licensed for the work being done; if these requirements are violated, the local permitting agency shall withhold final approval, revoke the permit, or pursue unlicensed-activity remedies. A separate narrow branch of the exemption also lets an owner take over and complete a permit on a one-family or two-family residence when the original contractor substantially completed the project. Confirm how Seminole County applies this before you apply.

From the Library

What else needs a permit in Seminole County

Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.

ProjectPermit needed?ThresholdTypical fee
Deck PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedThe Section 20.10 fee schedule (Resolution 2024-R-139, adopted Dec.
Electrical PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedElectrical permit fee (single family residential new construction, includes T-pole):...
Fence PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedFences: $40.00 base permit fee plus $5.00 per $1,000 value of construction
HVAC PermitIt dependsA self-contained refrigeration system with 10 pounds or less of refrigerant, actuated by a motor of 1 horsepower or less, does not require a permit; portable heating, ventilation, and cooling equipment is also exemptMechanical permit fee (single family residential new construction): $105.00
Plumbing PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedPlumbing permit fee (single family residential new construction): $190.00
Pool PermitIt dependsPrefabricated above-ground swimming pools accessory to a one- or two-family home that are less than 24 inches deep and hold 5,000 gallons or less are exempt from permitSwimming pools: $400.00
Shed PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedThe Section 20.10 fee schedule (Resolution 2024-R-139, adopted Dec.
Solar PermitPermit requiredNot specifiedSolar panels are listed as an example under the fee schedule's 'Building Permit Fees for...

Roof Replacement Permit in other Florida localities

Everything above, sourced

seminolecountyfl.gov: buildingread
seminolecountyfl.gov: storm damage repairread

Code references

National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Seminole County documents; the office above sets the local rules.

Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Building Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.

Last checked: Report an error on this page

Compare Roof Replacement Permit requirements across Florida localities

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